Disparate Liberal Debutante

10/16/2006

I like blogging

But I don't do it here anymore! I do it here! It's prettier and better.
Here is the most recent post:

In 1992 countries met at the Earth Summit to crack a strategy for dealing with the environment. There was one issue that was the ‘key’ issue which was not on the agenda at all… population growth. It was left off because the Vatican and various Muslim countries didn’t want it on the agenda.

There is controversy to what extent growing population is the cause of environmental degradation. Economic growth is arguably more of a threat than population growth in itself.

Nevertheless it is true that population growth has boomed. 2000 years ago, 200 million people lived here. 200 years ago, it was at 1 billion. By 1950 it was at 2.5 billion. By 1990 it doubled. 1990’s another 1 billion net increased occurred. It’s predicted that by 2020 there will be about 8.5 billion, by 2050 there will be about 10 billion people on the planet and should level off between 11 and 14 billion around 2100.

Why will it level off? Part of the reasons is that there are limited resources which could bring about a crash or something like that, but the rate of replacement will decrease by this time. As people become more educated and as there are more social services, and with women’s rights and birth control increase there will be dramatic decreases of the birth rate.

Even in developing countries the birth rate is already decreasing, but even so there are still billions of people that are under reproduction age, and they won’t start reproducing for a few years, so even with the decrease of the population birth rate, there will still be a shoot up before the number levels off.

The controversy is progressively becoming less controversial as we can see that carbon levels have dramatically increased as the population dramatically increases. Also, logic says the more people there are – the more resources we’re going to use.

What are our obligations to the environment then? Animals share certain characteristics with human beings in particular they are conscious. They have desires and such therefore we ought to apply some level of moral standards that we apply to humans. But what then of all those elements that are not sentient? The rational dividing line was always the ability to suffer. If you can’t suffer then you have no interests to take into account. But there have been various environmental ethicise that say we need to expand our obligation to the non-sentient world.

Rachel Carson opened us up to the scientific side with Silent Spring, where Aldo Leopold looked at the philosophical side. His book Sand County Almanac came out in 1949, around the time he died and in it Leopold argues that we have to expand the circle of moral considered to the biosphere or ‘the land’ as he refers to it. An ethic ecologically is an ethic as it pertains to consciously putting limits on our behaviour. We ought not to kill each other; we limit that behaviour within ourselves. He suggests that we need to extend these ethics to include the ecosystems as these also struggle for life. This extension of ethics is an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.

It is also something that advances our own possibilities of survival. Leopold sees the extension of moral obligations to the ecosystems is in line with our moral obligation to evolution. It is also an ecological necessity because of the impact we’re having on the natural environment. The land ethic enlarges our community to include soils, waters, plant, animals and particularly communities of creatures. He says that the land ethic requires a psychological shift from the idea that we are conquerors of the land to the fact that we are just citizens of the biotic community. We are parts of the evolutionary ecosystems, therefore just as the way to treat other human beings to respect them, we must respect other aspects of the natural world. The economic system, as presented by Max Baxter, is invested in self interest and is thus lopsided, it tends to ignore and thus eliminate anything that lacks commercial value. It assumes falsely that economic parts will function the same as the non-economic parts, it is all necessary for the functioning of a whole.

It is not good enough to leave this up to governments, Leopold argues. It is something that we all have to take on as a personal responsibility. We have to internalize this ethic, and understand the capacities of ecosystems. Therefore his key line is “a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise”.

Now, this in a moment’s reflection will show that this is a holistic environmental ethics. It is not focused on the intrinsic values of individuals, it is not a Kantian ethic in that sense, and it focuses on the health of eco-systems. It is in some sense, akin to utilitarianism, as it promotes the health of the whole; however that health has nothing to do with experiencing happiness. Basically Leopold asks us to simply stop thinking of the environment in purely economic terms. This anthropocentric approach, however, is more realistic because this is how people think.

So is the land ethic realistic? Or hopelessly idealistic?

Ones own self interest is to have clean water, not to have clean water for the bees and the pine trees. People will rarely do the right thing, unless they see a direct benefit in it for themselves. In some sense there no real big difference between Baxter and Leopold. The basic line comes down to conservation for the benefits. If you use Baxter’s argument, you’ll be more likely to fulfill Leopold’s bottom line.

Leopold’s bottom line does raise some challenging and perplexing questions…

Doesn’t nature evolve with constant change? Why is it good to preserve stability? And what is beauty? Is a desert as beautiful as a horse? In regards to animals such as the Pere David deer, do we have an obligation to reintroduce these species back into the environment? What if humans hunted zebra for their pretty stripes, would it then be wrong if we can genetically engineer them to have no stripes to stop the hunting? We’re not preserving the beauty, but we’re still preserving the animal.

J. Baird Callicott of the University of North Texas takes on the task of defending the land ethic. What’s surprising is that UNT is a hotbed for environmental philosophy. The journal of environmental ethics is published here and has attracted many environmental philosophers, to

Collicott has written extensively on environmental ethics, particularly defending the land ethic. He points to the fact that generally speaking the study of morality has been seen as uniquely human. It has set us apart from the rest of nature. What gives us the capacity to be moral creatures is reason. This is like Kant; who, as we know, argued that our ability to be moral rational agents set us apart from the rest of animals. The general idea is that humans are moral beings and this gives us a special worth in the world. And our language is also something that sets us apart; we can hold one another accountable and live by moral principles. (Sorry, I have to say it… Raptors had the ability to reason and communicate and were probably smarter than humans…)

Collicott later pulls on Darwin. One idea of morality is that it came from god; god gave us the difference between right and wrong. However supernatural explanations are literally nothing, the purple unicorn in the corner can’t vouch for your theory. Collicott makes the point that reason seems to depend on language, and that language would not have developed apart from humans living in society. So if reason can not evolve without linguistics and linguistics could not have happened without being social beings, in order to be these social beings we must have had limitations on our actions, before being these rational moral agents. Being social beings, we already have ethical limitations on our behaviour. If reason depends on being social and being social depends on having limitations it can’t be the case that reason gave rise to morality. Hence we must have become ethical before we became rational.

This is where Darwin comes in. Darwin, like Hume and Smith (*shudders* I detest Adam Smith, I have read waaaay too much of his stuff), argue that ethics rest on feelings or sentiments. The basis of our systems and notions of reality is sentiment, it is built within us. We have a natural disposition to apply the golden rule and empathize with others in their suffering and their well being. This sentiment with other people is the basis of morality. This is then informed by reason. Darwin takes this and argues that morality is to be found in many animals that are social by nature. Whether they be crows or lions, animals that live together in families or groups develop a sense of well being for others – it is naturally selected for.

We all sort of know Darwin’s basic idea of evolution but, I’ll just do a quick reminder – any species, different individuals have different characteristics, he noted that in any population there is an excess of those born or produced than what survive. The question is then, which are likely to survive? The ones that have a characteristic that gives them an advantage in their particular environment. The individuals which are better adapted are more likely to pass on those characteristics to the offspring which will ultimate produce a ‘better fit’ population in the future.

For animals that live in groups, coming to one anothers aid gives the individuals a better chance for survival, so that mutual aid and sentimental attachment to one another is selected for by nature. The origins of ethics is not with human reason, it starts before humans become humans. It can be found today in crows or bunnies.

Darwin’s account begins with the affections between parent and children common to perhaps all mammals. Darwin does not say that hyenas have the same level of morality of humans, but the difference between humans and non-humans is in a degree.

Collicott takes all this and says that Leopold’s land ethic’s basis is a Copernican cosmology, in other words, we are not at the centre at the universe. He tries to argue that the land ethic of Leopold is in line with evolution, particularly in line with the evolution of morality. We are one species on the earth, which is one planet, which is in one solar system, which is in one universe…of many universes. The extension beyond human concern is rooted in the natural history of ethics. The logic of the land ethic is that natural selection has equipped us with an effective moral response to identity. The land is a community, so a land ethic is not only possible, but is also necessary because we have developed the ability to destroy the integrity of it.

This then indicates that Singer and Reagan’s previous arguments toward animal rights are inadequate. The boundaries of the moral communities in cahoots with sentience do not take into account the interaction with the non-sentient world. Ethics like those of Singer or Reagan are based on extending the egotistical concern for ones self. The contemporary animal liberation rights and ethics of the kind in Singer and Reagan extend the classical paradigm of Kant and Bentham and extend it to non-human beings.

But this standard is too traditional, and bases too much consideration on modern capacities. This provides no moral consideration for holes, and ecosystems. Species do have interests as species. Endangered species, the biosphere of its totality, ecosystems and holes having no psychological experience, it doesn’t suffer or reason so it has no mental capacity thus we can’t deal with our obligations to the natural environment based on these ethics. Nature is not amoral, intelligent moral behaviour is natural.

We are not rational beings in spite of, but in accordance with nature.

So is the land ethic deontological? Or credential? It is both, self consistently both. It applies to someone who has absorbed the ethical view of nature and will internalize this attitude. The land ethic is a set of principles to follow because it is moral. From the objective and analytic point of view, there is no other way for land to survive with man acting irresponsibly, and no way for man to survive without the land. It is a categorical imperative. It is a moral principle to be obeyed, and it is in our best self interest to obey it.

8/21/2006

7/25/2006

So...I did it.

I got a new blog...I'm totally sick of blogger. Honestly. Driving me INSANE! (and not even in the membrane so it wasn't the good insane. Oye!x3)
So the new url is http://liberal-debutante.typepad.com yes, thats right, i upgraded to typepad bitches. and you'll notice the singular 'debutante'...Metroid is no longer with me. I dont know if she plans on keeping up her blog or not... but...she might. So i know a few people have me linked in their blog rolls, you might wanna change that. :D lol... anyway, see ya over there.

7/24/2006

I'm a myspace whore...

I'll admit it straight up, I use MySpace... all the time. I add people that I recognize, but know they won't know me, and I add people who I just think sound cool. I peruse groups looking for places to just put my opinion in randomly and as harshly as possible. I like leaving comments on my friends pages, especially ones that are basically incoherent.
I read something rather... halarious today. Walmart's rip off of MySpace, The Hub. (The Hub is actually the name of a forum I used to play on all the time...but now...don't so much.)
Not only do I already hate walmart, I think this is a pathetic attempt at reaching the youth culture. (Which! Is on a horrible decline I decided today - but I might post on that later...I also...might not. We'll see.) I think it's halarious that they're also attempting to include everyone by making the "AV CLUB" look cool. (I love the av club...I think it's uber cool. But, others my disagree.)

Just as a heads up...

After a long fight with the punk over how stupid I think it is to pay for a blog/website... I think I'm going to do it. I'm pretty much sick of the unreliability of blogger, and the problems I keep running into. I'm not really sure if I'm just going to do something like typepad or if I'll go crazy and buy a domain...anyway, I'll keep you all updated and post the new URL if I ever actually get around to doing this.

Ah...this is what I like...

When bloggers that I sort of like, guest-blog on a blog I'm starting to like. THEN I have two reasons to keep going.
Lindsay, aka Majikthise, is guest blogging at Feministing. Now, the whole reason I originally was reading Feministing was because of The Punk and how he would blabber on about it from time to time. Then I read it a bit more, and stumbled onto the girls myspace pages... only to realize they're not only fantastic writers, but they're pretty hype people who listen to some stellar music. Therefore, I will add Feministing to my blog roll and keep reading.
Anyway, Linday's first post was on a mother who had her children taken away from her, and now... wants them back. My thoughts on this are pretty simple. You have a baby, you're now have an immediate obligation to be a responsible adult. If you're not... the kid needs to get taken from you.
Depending on what you did to make you deemed 'unfit' should determine the lengeth to which you need to abide by to appeal the decision. For example, if you're a drug addict... sober up for a year. If you beat the kid... you never get to appeal. If you were poor and not providing basic necessities for the kid... get a stable job for 6 months. Annnd so on.
So why am I a jerk and say this lady should never have her kids back? I doubt most of you will read the 10 page article (except for the punk...because...he does stuff like that.) but she had an abusive husband whom she didn't keep away from the children, she repeatedly abused drugs even after treatment, she lied to the children's aid people... and etc. So there's a relatively long list deeming her to be an unfit parent.
I judge people, thats what I do best. And I am judging her, perhaps unfairly, but I don't think so, as someone who should never have her children back. Visiting rights and all that snazz, sure, why not? But she barly even comes off as being able to take care of herself, let alone...5 or 6 kids. Its sad, but children are too fragile and important to gamble with.

7/23/2006

All better!

Big thanks to Webs for pointing me to a website that could confirm some of my issues. Now I have a template with no errors in it, and should work out better for me, and therefore not make it a chore to post things anymore (hence the recent lack...).
Anyway, I have nothing to post about today. haha...yeah. Im packing to move. And by packing I mean throwing out basically everything I own ...minus books, clothes, mascara and a few cds. Everything else is getting recycled and/or trashed. Its actually a really nice feeling to just throw everything out. Kind of like im just erasing everything thats happened in the recent past...because none of it was particularly spectacular. My new life out west will be complete when I get a puppy (a jack russell terrier to be exact) and find a boy that doesn't...think of me and my feelings as a joke. LIke the past 3 boys in my life. (Its times like this when I really regret breaking up with the really really good boyfriends of the past... of which, theres about one, and he's got a new girlfriend. grr...OKAY enough of the personal life rambling...)
Ill be back up and running tomorrow.

7/20/2006

Biodiversity...eh?

So I’m not going to make that colossal and ever so enlightening biodiversity post that I promised would be made for you fine readers. I admittedly started doing it, and then decided that I really didn't feel like going and looking for sources and being all responsible for everything I spewed out… So, as an alternative I will do a shorter post on the existing state of biodiversity, using easy to locate sources that can speak for me.
The big news behind biodiversity today is the current call for the establishing of an Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity (IPB). There has been an undeniable trend recently calling for people to take serious deliberation to the fact that we are losing biodiversity faster than ever before. The two mega faunas that were most recently added to the biodiversity list are the polar bear and the hippo.

[link]“The planet is losing species faster than at any time since 65 million years ago, when the earth was hit by an enormous asteroid that wiped out thousands of animals and plants, including the dinosaurs. Scientists estimate that the current rate at which species are becoming extinct is between 100 and 1,000 times greater than the normal "background" extinction rate - and say this is all due to human activity.”

The big thing there is that it is due to human activity. There is a responsibility here for us to take action… and fortunately some people have recognized that.

[link]“"The international community is failing on its biodiversity targets," said Alfred Oteng-Yeboah from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Ghanaian government's science advisory body.”

What are the international community’s obligations? Well, in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit the Conservation of Biological Diversity plan was born stating that all countries must try to have *some* sort of decline in species and ecosystems loss by 2010.

[link]“The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a vast four-year international research programme which began to report its findings last year, found that two-thirds of "ecosystem services" - the benefits which humans derive from the natural world - are being eroded.”

It’s been recognized and efforts have been put forth, but obviously not enough. And of course, as with most things in the environment, everything is interconnected.

[link]“Nearly one-quarter of the world's mammals, one-third of amphibians and more than one-tenth of bird species are threatened with extinction. Climate change alone is expected to force a further 15%- 37% of species to the brink of extinction within the next 50 years.”

So as we continue to take over the earth, drive our SUVs, destroy habitats for our homes, we continue to heat the world, take away the homes of species and wipe out nature that has so diligently and patiently housed and cared for us for thousands of years
13 scientists did a report in nature suggesting some serious change. These scientists included some of the most distinguished scientists who I can only dream of being taught by. (Half because they’re not professors and half because I don’t really take science classes…)

[link]“The scientists believe that a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change could help governments to tackle the continuing loss of species. "Biodiversity is much more than counting species. It's crucial to the functioning of the planet and the loss of species is extremely serious," Dr Larigauderie said. "Everywhere we look, we are losing the fabric of life. It's a major crisis."”

That is an extremely bold statement, and it’s being made by a creditable person, but really, who listens to creditable people these days?
As if the climate crisis wasn’t enough for the people of this fine world to comprehend we’re tacking onto that a biodiversity crisis. If they’re not attended to, what happens? Not that I like playing the doom and gloom role, but there really isn’t much hope for a future if it’s not taken seriously.
A lot of people will say “We fixed the O Zone problem…” but in comparison, the O Zone is peanuts. Fixing the O Zone took a lot less than fixing these other two issues. The O Zone was being destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons and all those other tasty things that come shooting out the ends of our hair spray. We ban those and its all good. We can live our lives just as before while saving the O Zone.
Reversing climate change, and attending to the loss of biodiversity involves *life style* changes. Who is prepared to make those changes?
Celebrities in their Escalades?
How about people in the sweltering heat with their ACs?
Universities and their ludicrous policies of leaving hall lights on 24/7 in residences?
People who refuse to support local farmers and continue to buy transported foods because they look better? *coughgmoscough*
Everyone says they’re concerned, but they hold that “not in my back yard” approach. We’re all okay with helping attending to climate change – but as long as that doesn’t mean sticking up an ugly windmill anywhere near our houses, or solar panel fields. We’re okay with helping animals, as long as it doesn’t interfere with all of our expanding cities, like Mississauga.
Mississauga is my pet peeve city. It has expanded in the past 5 years so far north that it takes an hour to get from one end to the other by bus. But the population? It hasn’t really been inclusive to the geographical expansion, its unnecessary expansion is only inclusive to the idea that they want to have a pretty city. (That isn’t even pretty; go to Oakville, its pretty.)
We’re looking at lowering out energy consumptions and telling a consumerist nation, to stop consuming. I’ve become embarrassingly partial to watching Sex in the City, and it does the opposite to me that it does to most other avid watchers. The girls in Sex in the City are horribly consumerist. Sarah Jessica Parker buys new shoes for new dates, and just shops to drown her sorrows. But it’s not just Sarah, tons of girls do it. Like the girl I work with that I mentioned before…
She told me that when she goes to the bar, she *has* to go buy a new outfit first so she isn’t seen in pictures or two different nights wearing the same things. *Hangs head in pity…* I however strive to be nothing like Sarah Jessica Parker and even bolted it out of Bentley’s today as I picked up a purse and thought “hmm, a new purse would be nice..”.
Climate change and the biodiversity crisis aren’t as easy as banning harmful chemicals. We need to get our countries to commit to changing their life style, we’re looking for a complete paradigm shift before it’s too late – and I’m really not so optimistic on it happening in time. And I feel like I should point out - Biodiversity loss is not reversable. It requires...immediate response.

And my 200th post will be about....

The bible!!
Well, not really the bible, but this site. Ha ha, how cute. I searched the word "homosexuality" and "sex" and got zero responses for that. Not suprising I got lots of returns for "jesus" ...(I can't imagine why...) 1 pages of resaults for "laws" and so on.
Its an interesting resource page that I plan on using for my next essay I have to write in my religion class all about The Bible.

7/19/2006

Well, that was tragic...

There seemed to be a couple days in there when I wasn't able to post. Strange. And I appear to be having some layout/template problems. ...I feel like ditching this whole 'blogging' thing all togther... or at least until someone else offers to do all the dirt work... like hosting, and dealing with people I piss off, and when the template goes screwy... any takers???
Anyway, I didn't really have a *ton* to post. ...I was going to do a thing on the hockey situation, how edmonton has NO ONE left, and how the leafs still SUCK, and the avs have really only been left with Sakic, but everything is okay because Forsberg is at least still in the NHL...but, now I'm not going to. ...I posted a thing on UTI... did I actually just link to myself? Weirdo.
Um, the guy in the west that killed 11 girls a few years ago was denied parole, PHEWPH, that would have been bad, i do think. And there is a new thing on think geek, and its a knife set, and the knives sit in a figure of a human, its halarious and I want it. So sadistic. LOVE IT. Bush swore and everyone cares. Annnd other stuff. Go read google news, it is the bearer of all that is worthy. ...There are news articles for all of these stories, but I'm not going to look for them again. Im pissed off at blogs today.

7/17/2006

Pirates are cool right now...

7/16/2006

More...war...

Im not going to flat out say "I do/don't support Hezbollah"...
I will say that the targeting of civilians *BY EVERYONE!* is fucking ludicrous and sickening.
I've been told that I just don't understand. I don't have people being kidnapped, my family isn't being killed and I don't have aggression being forced in my country - no, I don't... but it effects the world, that's a lame argument. 7 Canadians were killed, I know that's very small in comparison to the numbers that have died over there, but its still a number. And I see the effects, on CBC news a mother waits for word from her 12 year old son who went to Lebanon 2 weeks ahead of them on their bi-annual vacation.
Here's a news clip...that I got angry and teary while watching, but that's just me, I get a little bit too personal with things.
What should the US do? Stay the fuck out, imo, unless its for humanitarian aid.
I think the whole "you bomb me so I should be able to bomb you" is getting old and wearing thin...
And there is this:
fuck you who says civilians are being protected and that Israel isn't firing where they shouldn't be. I know its a biased video, and that there are tons of ones for the other side too..I'm not ignorant to that, but come on people - no one is in the right here. Neither side is doing anything worthy of praise, or worthy of taking a side.
And last one:
What really troubles me about this one is the title "This week in war"...WTF?! That's not right on so many levels.
Anyway the whole reason Im making this post is that over on UTI Alon posted something that drew a lot of CRAZY people into the comments. HA HA Crazies. Read the comments... I'll post here what I wanted to say since I didn't have the guts to do it there (YES im a coward, eat me.) STOP NUMBERING SHIT AND BEING IDIOTS!!! theyre using arguements that like grade 8 kids use. "That's just your opinion" (Alon called that one out before I could. Damn.)Yeah, my opinion backed up by facts that you apparently just don't want to recognize or accept. Whhhaatever. People are nuts.
This whole war thing is breaking me down (as if there isn't enough in a teenage girls life to fiddle with and cry over...) I can only imagine if I were there first hand :(.
<3 I always wish I could do something, and feel so helpless that I know really can't.

7/15/2006

Pfft, get real and get bent

Today at work I was wearing a shirt that says "This is what a feminist looks like". I usually wear an apron around the place as not to be covered in crap by the end of my shift. However, tonight I was supervising so I was running around, signing papers, calling people and dealing with angry customers (who really don't understand the words "No, we don't have any, but we will by Tuesday." "what do you mean you dont have any!?! I've been coming in all week! When will you have some? how can you not have any???" "Sorry, we don't have any, but we will by Tuesday.." annnnnd so on.)
So a guy comes in, and reads my shirt and kind of laughs... when I ask him what's so funny, I immediately regret it... as he starts telling me that "youth these days don't understand the importance of keeping life how it should be and that these new rock and roll values and isms will ruin the world"...uh huh. ...'k.
When I got home I was ticked and started reading antifeminsts pages and such...and came across an article full of complete hogwash. (Hogwash?...heh...the old man rubbed off on me?)
What a stupid *stupid* thing to believe that the work force and money come before friends, family and love. If I end up marrying a man who can't handle the fact that I may make more money than him then I don't want to be with him anyway.

STATISTICS bear this out: the number of women entering the workplace has increased by a third since 1975, and in 2005 one third of all managers in business were women.

At the same time, 40 per cent of all marriages end in divorce. Clearly, it's difficult to deny the two sets of figures are in some way connected.

Oh no! Women are starting to think and not just marry and have children and remain in unhappy abusive relationships! Whatever are we supposed to do???
Honestly, my boyfriend is a total lame ass... sure he works and such, but if we were to get married (AH! no.) and have children (AH! no.) then he wouldn't mind staying home with them if I wanted to work. Why? Because relationships are about completeing the other person. He would be filling in the areas that I wouldn't be able to do...
What I don't understand about this article, is that for some reason we're supposed to just accept that its more of a problem for men to want to stay at home, but women should what, just be used to it? Uh, huh.
It just makes me bitter that its some sort of a problem to be a career driven and dominant female, but thats how men have been for years and the ladies have always put up with it.
Along these same lines just a small story - my aunt today found out that she is getting paid $4000 less than the 2 other males in her same position... *sigh* (This combined with period cramps make me want to hit every male I see.)

7/14/2006

I was beat to it

This weeks random monday morning music was going to be about sufjan stevens, but while perusing the blogs this evening I saw that Lindsay aka Majikthise actually just posted a post about him. Although I would have posted more of his stuff, since Chicago and John Wayne Gacy are, imo, better songs...but oh well. Casmir was the very first song by him that I heard, and thats how I fell in love with him. My friend Allen sent me the song, and then my ex-roomie the Lenster lent me a couple of his CDs, which I also fell in love with and was very reluctant to give back to her.
I was actually pretty shocked to see the post. Not a lot of people listen to him, or to the music I listen to...however, its turning out that Lindsay and I have very similar musical tastes...
Anyway, check that out, Sufjan Stevens has a voice to end all voices, and his songs are original and beautiful... Also, you should check out a biography on him. He's got a really interesting story to tell.

Im a sick puppy

(For anyone who doesn't know, "I'm a sick puppy" doesn't mean I'm gross, it means I'm sick, with the flu. When my brother Andy was about 5, he asked mom if he could watch a movie, and when she said no, he said very sad and seriously "why? am I a bad puppy?" ...so ever since watching that home video, i refer to myself as a _____ puppy because its so cute.)
Yes, I'm sick. Hence the lack of updates. At first i thought I had food poisoning from my friend Christian's meatloaf that he made as a hangover cure (what?!) but I'm still sick and it's like all over my body. So I'm guessing its the flu, I can't really keep a whole lot down, and I can't stay awake for very long. Mix that in with having to write an essay for religion that a) my mom wouldn't write because she was packing b) the boyfriend couldnt write because he didnt know the topic (its on Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and he pronounded Qur'an as 'kay-ron' and said that jews and christians use the same book...so i didnt let him write the essay) and c) the punk refused to write because he hates me....
Sooo I had to write it myself. It only took about an hour and a half, but it turned out pretty shitty. So I sent it to the punk to fix...he said he'd do that for me at least while i lay in bed and die because i can't move. yay for laptops. i wrote my essay lying down with my eyes closed for most of it...lol. Yeah. Siiick puuuppy. So you didnt get the biodiversity post i promised, and im working all weekend, so maybe next week if i get my act together. we'll see. I'm toying with the idea of calling into work Saturday and telling them I ...broke my leg or something (something more believe able, and fakeable the next time i go in, perhaps?) but we'll see how that plays out.

7/11/2006

Is this the norm now?

A friend says to me tonight "I'm 20, and I lived in a fucked up world" after telling me about the Mumbai Bombing. over 400 wounded, that is...a phenomenally high number. Im really curious to see how much press this gets and if its made a big deal... because, well...more than 400 so far have been found wounded!!
This can't be normal. This can't be the world that we live in. It's sad, and it's heartbreaking. What I really hate, is that I wasn't shocked. I felt like it had happened last week and that someone was just telling me again. ...And I hate that. So much. *tear*
update: after a quick google search this morning (8:22 am, no...I never really sleep...) the headlines mostly deal with the effects the bombings are having on stocks....:|

Shall we assimilate then?

Last month Toronto was under the threat of 17 domestic terrorists who were going to blow up parts of Southwestern Ontario with explosive poop. While sitting in my friends living room talking with a group of guys 20 - 26 in age about the event, the general conclusion was that terrorism is basically to be blamed on multicultural societies, and the freedom that immigrants have in our countries.
They continued by saying that the terrorists hate our democratic and diverse culture and want nothing but the opposite. They want everyone to be part of *their* way of life, just like everyone wants. As when the Europeans came they wanted to assimilate the Natives, so everyone else wants the power that the 'white people' got.
Yes, I'm aware I was hanging out with apparent idiots. The sad part of this is 1/2 of them were graduate students, and 1/2 of them are in political science. (I promise, when I'm doing my graduate studies in poli sci or geo, I'll think about what Im saying...) They were, floored when I, the 2nd year technically undeclared student (i just need to do the paper work...), spoke up in dissagreement. And then, even more shocked when I suggested it was religion, not mulitcultural societies. The following was why I don't usually speak up in a room full of people...first they all went horribly quiet, listening and taking in what I had to say, and after ripped me apart for not knowing what I was talking about.
The example I used later on when Jordan and another one of them asked me to elaborate, because they were curious, was when I was in highschool. I went to a very multicultural highschool since it was in the GTA. Us white kids were the minority, where as East Indian were by far the majority. I was friends with people from all groups, in grades 9, 10 and 11 our race never came up. But in grade 12 all of my friends seem to become... patriotic and more importanty religious.
(Before I get into this, I want to point out that the groups Im talking about...were the more or less 'cool' kids of the school. These are the hallway kids that never socialized, or the pot heads that never knew what was going on.)
The Europeans started wearing shirts boasting their country, the African American kids started playing up the 'thug' roll (even our friend Andree who we always called 'the whitest black kid ever' started dressing like a rapper). The European kids became very catholic, and the black kids became really spiritual like...My middle eastern friends started saying strange things about my being white...but they never called me and my white friends "white" or "crackers" or whatever, they always called us "the christian kids". It was similar with my white friends, they started referring to anyone of middle eastern decent as muslims...
Now you may say "Your generalizing is just as bad as anything..." but the real sad part about this is, I can't recall more than...20 or so people in my grade that didn't start adhearing to what I've discribed. The exception was the white kids who just got stupider and started trying to be all OC.
Obviously the smaller issue here is that all the white kids weren't christians and all the mid eastern kids weren't muslim. But the bigger is that it started to become a mini war. A guy who had been my friend through most of highschool, suddenly turned on me because I didn't share his beliefs. Pre-religious enthusiasm I faught less with people in classes, and the segregation of our grade was way less.
What I've just described is on a very small scale... But it can be applied to all aspects surrounding terrorism and crazy fanatics standing up for their reilgious beliefs and killing themselves for god's will, or whatever. I feel like I must refer, yet again, to the video The Root Of All Evil, as I think it touches on every point that is relevant in this. It is religion that continuously reminds us to hate, and to make sure those that we hate, know why we hate them.
So to those boys in the living room - I say ...think about what you're saying. You get put into a room with 10 different people. They are all of different colors, and all of different religions, and chances are the one thing that they would all be willing to kill for thats 'in' that room with them, is their god and their religion, or their own survival...
Oh my, speaking of killing for Survival, I think this is a perfect time to tell you, Battle Royale is my favorite movie in the entire world (Merci Helene.)

Corn, not so awesome.

I got excited a while ago when I heard about corn being a possible new fuel that would be stellar for the environment. But a new study shows that it really won't be that great.

When all these costs are factored in, corn-based ethanol does indeed reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but only by about 12% compared to gasoline, they found.

In contrast, biodiesel reduces emissions by 41% over diesel fuel, largely because it does not need distillation to be processed into fuel. Also, far fewer fertilisers and pesticides are used in growing soybeans, giving biodiesel a further edge in reducing environmental impact.

So, soybeans instead of corn? ...I won't get too excited. Im starting to see the stupidness that the alternative fuel industry is turning into.

Even if the US devoted all its corn to ethanol and all its soybeans to biodiesel production – which would cause widespread food shortages – the resulting biofuels would cover less than 5% of US gasoline and diesel fuel needs, they calculate.

Ah, right...not getting excited as not to be let down. Then there is the problem that corn and soy beans are some of the biggest crops used in the world to feed people. world wide.

"Those two sources are always going to be minor supplies of those fuels," says Tilman. "Turning what is already a globally limited quantity of food into energy is not a very good option in the long term."

The world doesn't make sense to me. We live in a developed world, where we think of food as so little as to burn it to drive our stupid cars around. I really need to be made Queen of the World so I can start making big cars, and unneeded cars illegal. And so I can destroy consumerism. All in favor? Bwa ha. Just wait. It'll happen.

I wish I was hardcore

This is brilliant and so much more hardcore than I'll ever be! Her little brown dress project has just ended and now she is starting a project where for a year she will only wear things that she has made.
The little brown dress project simply was to wear the same...little brown dress... for 365 days. When she launched it, this was her statement

I am making one small, personal attempt to confront consumerism by refusing to change my dress for 365 days.

In this performance, I intend to reject our sweat-shop-supporting economy of over-consumption, and the bill of goods that has been sold, especially to women, about what makes a person good, attractive and interesting. Clothes are certainly part of this image, and the expectation is immense. The economic resources required to regularly purchase newly-manufactured clothing in retail stores are staggering – a hundred dollars for one new shirt?

As a brand new working mom with a new family budget, these economies are coming sharply into focus for me. Even my beloved second-hand shopping requires time, effort, and energy that saps my attention from the more vital parts of my life – being with my family, making artwork, tending the garden, growing my community, keeping a watchful eye on the government, reading new books, learning new skills, singing new songs . . . I intend to make good use of my energy saved!

Influences - The project is influenced in part by the art/anti-fashion movement “Grey Sweatsuit Revolution”, in which participants attend a social event or public gathering wearing un-flattering sweatsuits as a statement against fashion trends and dictums. It is also inspired by my view of our brothers and sisters who are citizens of the third-world, many of whom literally do not have a change of clothes. Historically, I am bolstered and supported by the generations of human beings living in every part of the world before the industrial revolution, who wore day after day, year after year, only what they or their family members could weave, sew, or knit by hand.

Just the other day I was complaining that Fashion posts were taking over things like I like, blogs, magazines...etc. (I was a bit shocked when on the latest issue of Wired there was a subtitle that said "Dos and Don'ts of Geek Fashion"...geek what now?)
But what an awesome way to step out of the fashion industry that is so often layed on so very thick. I'm not a horribly fashionable person - but I will say I am somewhat of a consumer whore. I shop more than I need to, and I have enough clothes for at least 3 other people...and I only wear 1/8 of it regularly. (Yes, therefore I should get rid of the other 7/8...I'm aware, and I will... when I move across the country I'll be packing rather light.)

Abortions saved my life...

Yes, I'm pro-abortions. I think every woman should be able to decide what to do with her own body and that includes whether or not she wants to carry around a baby for 9 months then give it away, or dedicate her entire life to raising. Its a huge commitment, its a huge deal, and women need the right to choose if they're up for it, or not.
But, that's what what this post from Jessica's feministing is about. Should it be illegal for a pregnant woman to smoke and drink?
I was walking downtown yesterday and walked past a pregnant women who was indeed smoking. So being as curious and stupid as I am, I stopped and said to her "Why are you smoking with that baby so far along the way?" and she said "I just never could stop..." I made one of those half-smiles of discontent and continued on my way.
So should it be illegal...well, no. (Should smoking in general be illegal? I think so...but whatever.)
There is a fine line between protecting human rights, and stepping on them. There is the option of offering support groups and help to women who are pregnant and find themselves with an addiction. However, that being said, even when things like that are available, the right people don't always have access to them.
...Imagine you're on the street and you're smoking...and you're not pregnant. Imagine how halariously embarassing it would be for someone to come up and tell you what you were doing was illegal. Ha ha.
Lastly I want to address one thing that she says:

Yeah, that’s likely. And now with this pre-pregnant nonsense, how long will it be until women who aren’t pregnant are charged with not taking care of themselves?

When I read the pre-preggo deal back in May, I was floored. All I am is an incubator? A baby maker? I don't even plan on actually birthing a child... does that make me nothing?!? It's ridiculous the extent some people will go to, to make sure women are still held back, and that there is still a black cloud looming. For people who tell me to shut up about feminism, that it's dead because there is already equality...I say fuck you. Take a look at employment number, sexual assaults, how some men talk to/treat women, stupid religions that people still actually live by... saying that women are nothing.
In the movie my brother linked to a while back in a religion post I made Dawkins goes to speak to a muslim man who talks about the west "letting your women dress like whores"... I agree, most of the girls I see strutting around do look rather whore-ish, but the men of this country are not 'letting' us. We have the right to dress how we want... and it is a common right among all the people, not just our men 'letting us' dress like this. We need to lead a naked march through a muslim country, all us women.

I wanna drive it...

I love Eco Geek...my two favorite things SLAMMED together like the mighty force of gravity slams hamster cages to the ground (yes, I'm still stuck on that, and a bit upset).
Anyway, the Pivo looks fucking stellar, no?

The advantage of this is that the, yeah, cockpit can swivel, eliminating the need for the driver to ever actually turn the car around. No more 3 point turns and, yes, you could conceivably spin the cockpit 180 degrees while travelling at the Pivo's maximum speed of 60 mph.
As a zero-emission concept car for city driving, the Pivo is very weird but pretty cool.

60 Mph, thats just deadly... cause some real danger wtih that sort of speed. Its too bad that hybrid cars and such can't stop focusing on the stupid design and start pumping out useful and affordable, instead of futuristic, expensive and ...basically pointless... cars. but it is really cool. Click the link and watch the google video on it. Its interesting.

Shit, some things are just so cute...

The Panda Tai Shan turned 1! :) I actually remember when he was born...and those aren't usually things I remember, but I totally watched the birth at my grandma's house last summer.
Happy Birthday Tai Shan! You're so cute!! (Pandas look fake.)
(Picture from BBC News)

Kian is a boys name?

When I came up with the name Kian, I had a crush on a boy named "Ean" ...so it was going to be Kean...(just taking his name and throughing the first letter of my own real name to make it more me) but that looked like it should be said "keen" like commander keen, which is super cool, but I didn't like it for moi. So I changed the 'e' to an 'i' and got Kian. ...I pronounce it kee-ann, although I think most pronounce it k-eye-ann...but whatever. Turns out Kian is actually a boys name... and here I was thinking I had made it up and that I was all clever and original. Thats what I get for taking a boys name to make a screen name.
Well, I'll take a more or less fake position on this. For those of you who have noticed that a) i have a male screen name and b) i am a girl ...SHUT UP. Who says I can't have a boys name??? Don't push me or I'll be changing my legal name to Billy! or Chad! Im breaking a gender role that has been forced on me! So suck it.
...Convincing?... or can you just tell I had no idea...:S hehe

7/10/2006

Well then, I'm an asshole...

This evening was like any other evening. ...I was at home and got bored so decided to go outside and wander over to the boyfriends house to say hi and see what was up. I don't ring the doorbell anymore and just walk on in... today I swing the door open hitting a table that had never been behind the door before. I look behind the door only to realize I have also knocked a cage to the floor, and lots of shavings...my boyfriend has never had a pet before.
"Uh...Jord??" I yell... and he comes running down teh stairs to see what all the noise is about. I was then informed that he had bought a hamster, and put it there so that he would remember to show me. Instead, I knocked the cage to the floor and now poor Kingsley is running around the house somewhere....
His house is pretty clean and also quite small. Going off the assumed fact that Kingsley doesn't have the ability to climb stairs, we kept our search to the lower floor. After starting from one room and working our way through ever single room and every single square inch of the stupid floor, there was no sight of Kingsley. So, I may have lost and/or killed my boyfriends brand new hamster that he was so excited to show me.
But honestly... its part his fault to for leaving the stupid thing behind the freaking door.

Wow

Now only is Blake Mycoskie one of the most adorable people I've ever seen in my entire life, his drivers ed course seems like one that *I* would for sure take, if a) I lived within a region that offered it and b) ...I know how to drive now. *AND* he skateboards to work because he donated his hybrid car to the company!!! *sigh* He's like wearing a sign that says "I'm fucking perfect".
He touches on an issue that I've always complained about, but no one ever listens to me when I start going on about it.

It makes me very angry to hear that all of the cruise liners are able to dump their waste in international waters.

just for now...

spawned by a comment at UTI about extinction, I'm planning a relatively large post about extinction and biodiversity. But I'm not doing it today or tomorrow because I have a religion essay to write. (If someone else wants to write it for me - please, just e-mail me.)
Anyway, read this as a teaser. They are such gorgeous little things, aren't they? I say so.

SunFest

Down at the park this weekend, one of the biggest festivals in Ontario is happening, London's Sunfest. I didn't go down for very long this weekend, but I went long enough to see a couple really interesting bands, buy a ring and get some Ukranian food.
It was really interesting, but too bad it all closes down at 11, or we would have hung out there all night. Even the beer tent closed down, so we had to go seek out bars. (The rest of the night...need never be spoken about again...)

Aww

Darksyde at Kos did an interview with Brent from UTI, who I already loved reading, but his interview pretty much had me gasping, well at least one part of it:

[Link]Much later I realized that being an atheist is the best way to approach this life. It's like un-wrapping the cotton swaddling from your skull and seeing the bright, beautiful world as it truly is. Our planet, each other, our lives, our universe, they are all so incredibly and wonderfully exciting - all on their own! Why gild the lilly, you know? Isn't it enough to see the mind-blowingly beautiful fog of stars on a clear night - and knowing that our tiny little envelope of air and dirt is embedded in this small part of one of the spiral arms of our galaxy - without attributing it to Jojo The Great God Of The Congo's B.O. or something? I mean, why diminish it like that? I'd rather understand it the way it really is - and not the way that I wish for it to be.

Its one of those things I wish I could remember word for word just for the next time I start thinking "Why?" and all those stupid things that sometimes reenter my head because of my upbringing. Not to mention it's a damn good response to people who say that the world is so beautiful that there must have been something *more* beautiful that created it...

Pop culture is funny...

7/05/2006

Keep your hate to yourself, please.

I would just like to concentrate on a comment that was made in “In a world where it’s okay to hate a complete stranger”…comment thread.

I don’t hate a lot of things. I disagree with a lot of values, and I disagree with a lot of beliefs of various people. Most people who know me, know I disagree with the way organized religion is practiced and pushed onto others, and that I strongly oppose a lot of governments around the world – not just America. I don’t believe in a god, I don’t think our education systems are suitable for today’s young adults, I think prostitution should be legal, along with all types of sexual activity between consulting adults. I trust science and logic, and rely on my intelligence and ambition to get me a head in life. That’s me. These things I do have no negative impact on other people. The one thing I do that impacts others is advocate strongly for the environment and insist on life style changes world wide. But I don’t hate those that believe in god, and I don’t hate people who disagree with my lifestyle. I don’t hate people who find it necessary drive SUVs, I just feel like they need to be educated.

I think hate is a horrible thing to have imbedded into a person and into a mind. Hate is a strong emotion, and holds a lot of power. Having said all of this, I hope you’ll all fully understand the sincerity of what I’m about to say. I hate people’s hate. I hate bigots, elitists and people who need to discriminate against others as to feel better about themselves.

“You’re just mad because you’re a dyke and want out acceptance so badly.”

(I think that’s supposed to say ‘our’…)

First of all…I’m not a dyke. I’m not saying that defensively, I’m saying it as a statement of fact. Next, the last thing I want for myself is the acceptance of someone who thinks they are superior to me based on who they’re attracted to in their private life.

“You hate that you can't fit in with the majority of the Americans. So you're jealous that you can't find a way to be normal and love God.”

A group I am not overtly concerned with being accepted in, is a group that promotes hate, war, environmental destruction and all those less than lovely things. If normal means being a hypocritical extremist bent on controlling the lives of others, and destroying those who don’t adhere to their standards – then I want nothing more than to be abnormal.

I welcome comments of disagreement to my posts, I welcome comments of agreement or just an opinionon whatever. What I don't welcome is disgusting displays of intolerance to people and abohrrence to those that one may disagree with.

I've always been a fan of code pink...

A "rolling fast"? What the hell is that? So each star will fast--be still my beating heart--ONE WHOLE DAY? Geez, Lindsay Lohan probably goes longer without food than that when getting ready for a role. Heck, I've gone longer than 24 hours without food on several occasions during my residency. (OK, it wasn't willingly or planned, but it certainly didn't do me much harm.) And who wants to bet that a few stars who could use to miss a meal or two won't be participating?

Its just so funny, because its just so true. Stupid, stupid people, this isn't going to do dick all. Get your heads out of your asses. ...Now, don't getme wrong. I think CodePink is phenomenal and I sport my "Free Diane Wilson" t-shirt with pride. But... this protest is stupid. 'Nuff said.

7/04/2006

I love housewives! I love tarot cards!

I just found one of the strangest sites, called Housewives Tarot. Two of my least favorite things in the world, to be completely honest. But, I did it anyway. Here were my resaults:
past - Long have you faced an overwhelming challenge.
present - A time of travel will allow for personal growth.
future - So do not let a great loss spoil your outlook.
Of course my overwhelming challenge card was a dipiction of toothbrushes scrubbing a toilet. *That* is one hell of a challenge and probably the hardest one I'll face in my entire life. In the present Im apparently going to fly to BC on a broom stick. Yes, the lovely housewife was riding a broom stick, with both legs on one side...of course. And finally, the great loss that I'll be having in the future was a picture of spoiled mayo and moldy cheese. ...Well shit. I just won't buy any mayo or cheese for the rest of my life. Problem solved.

7/03/2006

Maybe I should just accept it...

The first bit of this story is going to sound a bit strange... but it's explainable.
My boyfriend set me up on a date. One of his friends was going to a wedding and needed a date, or wanted a date... I don't really know which, to go with him. So Jord volunteered me, after asking my permission...
So I decide I should get to know this guy a little bit since he is Jord's best friend and such. So we were in the reception talking about things, and he started asking me questions. It was at this moment in time that I realized...I'm not cool, and I might just be a nerd. He asked me "So what about dating?" and I quickly responded without thinking ..."Like carbon dating?" ...oops. He later was explaining to me about a girl he has met on many occasions, and how their lives keep running into each other. And I said "Oh! Kind of like a braided stream!" ...he apparently doesn't know about water geomorphology...
Later on he asks if he can go through my purse - because apparently you can tell a lot about a person by going through their purse. (He made it very clear that I could say no, or take things out of the purse first...but I have nothing to hide.) He got to my wallet, and pulled out my EB Games membership card... "EB Games?" ...a little embarassed I try to think of an excuse that wouldn't make me sound like a huge nerd... "Uh yeah, I only got it because when I bought starcraft I got $2 off..." As you can see, I failed on trying to skip over nerdsville.
And finally, he asked me a question that I heard as "So do you go to lan parties?" and I thought he was making a joke about all the geeky things that had happened that night, and I gave hima really dirty look and said "no, I don't lan..." ...and he looked at me very confused. "I asked if you go to Ceeps parties..." (Ceeps being the unviersity bar here.) *sigh*
At the end of the night, he said "listen, I'm going to call you. I could really use some help with my comptuer." ...D'oh.

7/02/2006

The long ignored monday morning music.

although, im still not going to do a decent post...I thought I should post something for MMM, since I was so consistent wtih it for like a month... then just stopped because I have like spurts of lazy.
So tonight, ...all I'm going to say is that I've finally filled my IPod with music. Granted, it's only a Nano, but it took me a very long time to decide which songs were totally worthy of getting added. Added to the play list tonight was controller.controller, sufjan steves, pretty girls make graves, le tigre, death from above and the weakerthans. So...we'll see next time I'm out and about if my play list finally works for me.
So I think I'll do my top 10 IPod songs...the songs I listen to, without a doubt, the most on my IPod while I'm walking around or riding the bus or whatever.

K'Naan - If Rap Gets Jealous ...(Like 4 times a day this one plays.)

Mobile - Out of My Head (So many times I've said "I wish their voices weren't in it...")

Le Tigre - Bang Bang

Panic! At the Disco - But it's Better if You Do

Michael Jackson - Thriller... (But I try to look/walk tough to even it out.)

MIA - Galang

Death from Above - Blood On Our Hands

Of Montreal - Disconnect the Dots

Rage Against the Machine - Killing In The Name Of

Everlong - Foo Fighters

On my IPod, Le Tigre, Panic! At the Disco and K'Naan are the artists with the most songs... (Queen is 4th... and I actually should have put Fat Bottom Girls somewhere on that top 10...but, oh well, honorable mention I guess.)
Anyway, that is all for tonight. Im a sleepy puppy.

"In a world where it's okay to hate a complete stranger"

I had to work tonight until 10 pm. Tonight there was also a religion lecture/rally/gathering at a theatre at 7 pm. I was a little bummed that I was going to miss it because I wanted to go... just to see what was happening and what was going to be said. I was thrilled when I was told that I got to depart early because it started to storm out and well... you don't require 4 people scooping ice cream during a thunderstorm. I ran to the bus stop, and got to the theatre within 10 minutes of the event starting.
I walked in hearing the words "and here we are, in a world where it's okay to hate a complete stranger! Where is all the love?" ...I thought that was alright, and that I might end up not hating the entire thing after all. The preacher then started to talk about living in god’s world, and living in a warm community.
Then back onto living in a not so tolerant world - we were told that the 'impurities' of the world need to be eradicated in order to fully love and understand everyone. ...This incorporated trying to help those that were gay, and attempting to show everyone on earth who the one true god is, and stopping abortions. ...hypocritesaywhat?
This was followed by some statistics; all were American, but whatever... Canada is America Jr. There were stats on abortions, drug use, homosexuals, STDs, drop outs, atheists and so on... We were then given instructions on how to 'change' these people, and how to spread the word of god.
Before the whole thing ended, he told us to go home and be alone with god. Saying that we all need to learn how to convert our loneliness into solitude with god. Once we realize (he didn't pronounce the 'a' in realize, btw) that god is with us forever we'll all be better off. "All you girls out there, stop looking for a man! You have *the* man for eternity!" ...Yeah, but will *the* man be willing to learn how to give 5 orgasms in a row? I think not. Instead of going to the bar for a "fake happy hour" that night, we were told to go have a "never ending hour" with "our Lord and Saviour, the father of all things, the good in everything and the one who will save us all. And it's not hard. All he wants from you, is yourself." ... That made me feel a bit insignificant…

I went to speak with the preacher afterwards, but before he would speak to me and answer my question he asked me “may we say a prayer together first?” and I said “no…” and he said “Well I’m sorry, we need to pray before we talk my child.” …”I’m not your child, and I’m not really down with praying.”…”I hope you have a good night young Miss.” …It was a swell way of filtering out the questions he didn’t want to hear before even hearing them.

So it didn’t go so well, and it was very typical, and I guess it’s what I expected. I actually thought there would be more singing, but there were only 3 songs. They were horrible. But, only 3. Speaking of horrible – check this out. Not only is it a horrible waste of time and money and resources, I can only imagine what that paint and such is doing to the soils. I know there is nothing around to really poison or anything – but still… I’m an environmentalist, and I hate seeing a mountain freaking painted.

More climate change things...

This week's science friday by the awesome DarkSyde is about the slipping ice...that I mention a few days ago in a pervious climate change post. His science fridays are *always* worth reading. I read them at either Daily Kos, or UTI. Reeead them!

OoOoO I'm predy.

So, PZ posted this, to find out who you look like as a celebrity. So, I just had to know who I would get. So I uploaded this picture of me:
Granted, its not the best picture, but... it fits the criteria needed to find the matches. And I was very happy with who i got! minus Ashley Olsen, because i HATE the olsen twins. the bloodly bitches stole my birthday.
Pretty hype eh? I must mention - Reese is my favorite actor in the ENTIRE world. ...I love her more than I love dinosaurs and that is saying A LOT.

6/30/2006

Rejuvenile

Colbert had Christopher Noxon on his show, the author of Rejuvenile. I basic idea is that ...we don't grow up anymore. Even adults aren't really grown up, they're rejuveniled, they skateboard, play lazer tag, drink with their kids...etc. I guess this relates to the post I made about the adults smoking pot with their kids in the basement - they just won't grow up and out of that. It sounds like a fluffy theory that Noxon has going on, and I won't read the book - but if I did I'm sure that I would find a few things to disagree with, and too many generalizations for my likings. But...I won't read the book, so I'll never know.
However, the blog is kind of interesting, and gives me the impression that he wrote the book as an excuse for himself.

Most dissapointing moment of my life...

I turn on the TV, and watch the Colbert Report...that wasn't the bad part, after it finishes, I decide that I want to watch a bit more tv. So I'm surfin' the stations, and i get to Much Music...and OMG! I nearly cry/die/faint/scream, for Britney Spears has a new video out, I was so excited!...Then I realised it was Ashlee Simpson, not Britney. *sigh*

6/28/2006

Environmental Preformance Index...

Click here to read all about it. The EPI is basically a way to find relationships between countries' economies and their environments. Top-ranked countries means that they are the most productive and competitive in the world, while maintaining superb environmental standards. The top ranked enviro countries are New Zealand, Sweden, Filand, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. The 5 lowest are underdeveloped countries - Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Niger. Canada is at number 8 and the United States is at number 28. China sits at 94...
The scores are based on health, biodiversity, energy, water, air and natural resources.
Health is based on child mortality, indoor air pollution, drinking water, adequate sanitation and ubran particles. Air quality is also based on urban particulates and regional Ozone. Water is based on nitrogen loading and water consumption. Water consumption is also a factor in biodviersty, along with wilderness protection and ecoregion protection. Natural resources she thefactor of timer harvest with biodiversity, but is also calculated by agricultural subsidies and over fishing. Finally, sustainable energy is based on energy efficiency, renewable energy and COs per GDP.
Why do we even need to have the EPI? It spots environmental problems - everywhere. It also helps determine where environmental policies are good enough, or insufficient. Its keeping check on governments and their environments. Not suprisingly there is a direct correlation between GDP per capita and where the country lands on the EPI and an even later correlation between their Human development index numbers, and their EPI.
Anywho, i read the full report, and then looked at the summary one - its just as good, actually. But the full report has a lot of cool graphs and maps to look at.

A fantastic ad

Futures are confusing.

If you were to ask me what I want to be when I 'grow up' my answer would be 'a grad student'. I'd love to just...do research my entire life... so I could be a prof at a university. I like to learn things - and in that setting it would be continuous learning. However, this post made me remember why I've always wanted to be a highschool teacher. When people ask me about university, and who my favorite prof was, I always think about it really hard and end up saying "actually, my high school teacher Mr. Smith was the one that helped me with university the most." ...And that's not a word of a lie.
I had him the first time in grade 11 for ancient civilizations, grade 12 economics and again in grade 12 for philosophy. Actually the only reason I took economics was because he was teaching the course. (This also happened to be the class I met Bilal in...curse that bloody class, curse it all to hell.) Im pretty bad with economics, but he made it work for me. I ended up doing the huge essay of the semester on the lock out that was going on in the NHL and zero sum. I got a really decent mark on the essay actually, which suprised the hell out of me. (The really funny thing was, at the beginning of the semester Cory and Bilal made a bet for who would get the highest mark...I told them that I would...and they laughed at me knowing my economic abilities, and that I hadn't taked grade 11 economics. Cory and Bilal ended up getting 70's where as I got a 92. Suckas.)
Anyway, Mr. Smith preped us all for university. His research method that I hated so much then is the only way I do research now for essays. He always told us not to be afraid to use "I" in an essay...all through highschool we were told this was horrible form and that if we ever did it, we would automatically lose 10%. Mr. Smith encouraged it. He often used the socratic method of teaching which was really effective in making us listening. ...He told us all these things about university that we didn't know, like that the profs only thought of us as numbers, and that where he'll give us unlimited help with essays, a prof will probably just point you in the direction of the library. (Mr. Smith, btw, was a prof at McMaster University in Hamilton before becoming a highschool - almost not getting the job for being over qualified. He has a PhD in ancient civilizations and speaks like a zillion different languages.)
My point is...Mr. Smith developed a relationship with us. He wasn't the only teacher I did that with, Mr. Fernback, Mr. Wolfraim and Mr. Armstrong as well. All four teachers were phenomenal. (Fernie was my geography teacher, Wolfy was media studies and Armstrong was Drama and staff supervisor of the sears drama festival plays.) These are the teachers that will always stick out to me. I had Fernback in grade 9, 11 and 12, same with Armstrong. So they saw me go through all my weird stages of teenage-hood, and knew me really well by the end of highschool. It was really sad to leave highschool, just because I knew I'd never get relationships with my teachers like that again.
But I would love to be a highschool teacher, andbe a hardass like Mr. Smith that the kids hate at the time, but then appreciate so much afterwards and feel like they really deserve the marks they get because they earned them. As great as university teaching would be, with all the research and huge classes - highschool just seems more personal, and almost like more fun. Anyway, there is no point to this post. Sorry if you actually got to this point of it :D

Merci Andy...

I read GrrlScientist's blog once in a while, but sometimes get bored by it. BUT of obviously the one week I don't read it she posts this halarious video and many other interesting things. I love Will. So thank you, to my brother in the last comment thread for directing me to it. (L).She also posted this geography challenge, that I think is really cool and totally rocked the casbah on.

6/27/2006

Hey, at least we're getting the bugs...

Turns out that being exposed to pesticides may increase a person's chances of getting Parkinson's disease by up to 70%, even if it's a low concentration of it. The study was done with more than 140 000 people. There is still confusion in that everyone that developes some sort of genetic mutation from the pesticides don't always get the disease and vice versa.

Ascherio and colleagues found that those who reported exposure to pesticides had a 70% greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than those who said they had no such exposure.

Right now in the popultion 2% of eople are at rist of developing the disease, but adding pesticides into the mix ups those chances to 3%. That wasn't the real big shock, the big deal was that even people working in an environment that had low transmissions of the toxin had equal chances of getting the disease as a farmer who is exposed to them almost all day, everyday.
This suggests that perhaps farm chemicals aren't the worst, and its what we spray on our lawns and gardens that could be doing more damage to our bodies, and to the environment that they're in.
(The source a New Scientist breaking news article)
**Also on a totally unrelated note, if anyone can find me the lyrics for Melissa Etheridge's "I Need to Wake Up" I'll probably love you forever.**

This seems like a no brainer...

but, a lot of things seem like a no brainer then the US just turns around and shocks us all. Should the EPA regulate carbon emissions? ...Someone explain to me... why the *Environmental Protection* Agency shouldn't regulate harmful greenhouse gases. But, really I think the funniest part of the entire article is this:

Rainstorms throughout the Washington area forced the Justice Department and the E.P.A. to remain closed today.

...They close because of...rainstorms? They can't get wet? They don't have umbrellas?
I have nothing else to say on this issue except that Im very confused and frazzled.

But what shall we do??

Greenland's Ice sheet is slipping away into the waters, reports the LA times and MSNBC. Bascially, the name "Greenland" may actually start to be properly portrayed, as a 2 mile think ice sheet melts twice as fast as it was melting five years ago. Which also means that it has surpassed all climate models predicitions on the melting rates.
The meltwater isn't only adding to the level of the ocean, but is lubricating the bedrock that is underneath. Which ultimatly resualts in the land glaciers falling into the water ever more quickly. How quickly is it melting? In 2005 the numbers indicated that Greenland was losing 52 cubic miles of ice every year.

"[The glaciers] are like the buttresses of the high cathedral. If you remove the buttress, the cathedral will collapse,"
- geophysicist Jose Rial.

Denmark will be monitoring the island. ...My mother suggested that I get a pen pal in greenland that lives on an ice sheet. That way when she stops sending me letters I'll know its time to leave Victoria and head for the mountains. :P

One good thing about global warming...

6/26/2006

I found it!

HA! It was on my old Live Journal thing - yes the place that originally lost me my spot at camp. Oh well! This blog is generally not very personal, but this is! So here goes...
10 Random things about me you may not know:
1. I have a boyfriend, I've only actually *told* 3 people about this, I've mentioned it, but like, my friends and family dont know.
2. I'm not actually that smart. I fake being smart really well. I make up the answers to a lot of questions, and just get defensive when I know I don't know the answer and that the other person is smarter than I am.
3. I lie a lot. Not like, once every couple days, but like 9 times a day. Well, maybe not that much. I've actually started writing stories as to get all the lies out of me so they don't come pouring out in person. But I lie to people at work a lot...mostly because I know they'll mean nothing to me in a couple months. But I've learned not to lie to those who matter... aka My mom and best friends.
4. I don't do drugs. I've done drugs. But I don't do them anymore. For some reason a lot of people think that I am always high on something, but really, I'm not.
5. Jurassic is my all time favorite movie in the entire world, and I'm not even joking. And I watch America/Canada's Next Top Model, and enjoy it.
6. I really didn't care who won the stanley cup this year. ...1/2 way through the game I started to care, only because everyone else around me seemed to care, and I was sort of drunk. But I really didn't care and I don't really care who wins it next year. Although, I would still like to see Colorado play and meet Peter Forsberg and kiss him.
7. I eat an abnormal amount of pickles.
8. I'm turning out to be exactly like my mom...only...shorter.
9. I still talk to 'psycho steve' daily. if you know who he is, then you know that this is a very very very stupid thing. I also know that it is a very very very stupid thing. But...whatever.
10. If I was never to have sex again, I wouldn’t care. That was on my last one, and it still holds true, I don't think people fully believe me when I say that. I think its pretty over-rated and that a lot of people my age just do it because its supposed to be fun. "pfft she's never had real good sex than!!" ...spare me.
9 Places I've visited:
1. ...This is going to be really lame. Newfoundland.
2. Winnipeg ages ago to meet Paul's family...and there was this weird guy Drew who was like 5 years older than me that kept tickleing me.
3. Quebec City…for like a day, and I had to order in French, but my mom said not to because they should be bilingual, and I called her a jerk.
4. Ummm, Michigan. Metroid and I had to floor it to like 150 to keep up with my sister.
5. Ottawa just once, I believe... mom and I took pictures with women voting or something like that.
6. On Google Earth, I’ve been pretty much everywhere, does that count?
7. I visit Jurassic Park at least 3 times a week.
8. I was like, so close to going to Singapore, but didnt get the passport. (d'oh! i still need to do that.)
9. One time I had a dream that I visited this really cool planet called Wagnar, and it had a lot of purple things on it.
8 Ways to win my heart:
1. Intelligence to the point of awkwardness.
2. Be funny, and not stupid funny like Adam Sandler, funny funny like Rick Mercer.
3. Understand nerdy things, such as the importance of 42 and know what kind of River you wouldn't want to cross.
4. Have read Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy - and fully agree when adams points out that humans say things too often that are already implied.
5. Don't agree wtih what I say, especially if you don't agree with it... aka have some balls and put up a freaking fight.
6. One word: wrestling.
7. Be cool...like, able to function in a social setting without having me smack my face in embarassment for you.
8. Like good music. This is key. Right now I am listening to prefuse 73, if you don't know who they are, ... you don't win.
7 Things I must do before I die: (*most of these I've left the same as from my LJ)
1. Ride a goddamn elephant!
2. Visit every continent with the exception of Antarctica…And steer clear of Panama, something about that tiny slit of land just seems very shifty…
3. Get a PhD yet continuing doing research for the rest of my life or teach at a highschool like Mr. Smith.
4. Meet David Suzuki, again, and instead of crying actually talk to him.
5. Do something really fucking cool and drastic for the environment that will make people go “wow, that was awesome”
6. Be on some sort of TLC show, preferably Trading Spaces. (I miss Paige!)
7. Adopt a child and mold them into being me only hella smart so that they’ll do something wicked and end up in some sort of history/science book. Something tells me my gummy bear time machine, and sex driven anti gravity machine won’t win me a Nobel Prize or get me into any books, except maybe psychology ones, in chapter 6: Insanity.
6 Things I'm afraid of:
1. Heights; falling would suck, imagine – watermelon + CN tower…ack. No good.
2. The dark; you never know what is in front of you or what you can run into…
3. The future; see explanation for the dark.
4. Little bugs crawling into little holes on the body...or ...bigger holes, just holes. Ew.
5. Ending up in either of these two situations: 1. working a full time job that is something like a janitor or a secretary and being bossed around by pompous assholes that think they are smarter than me. 2. Having children and being a stay at home mom that cooks and cleans all day and stresses out because soccer and ballet are on at the same time this summer.
6. Getting to Victoria and hating it.
5 Things I don't like:
1. Chewing Noises. GAAH Someone in the movie today was chewing gum, I nearly turned around and slapped his dirrty face.
2. Not understanding things. Thats something I'm really not used to and it drives me nuts.
3. People who think I'm stupid, or talk to me like I'm stupid. Especially when I'm way smarter than them...example: Everyone I work with.
4. raw meat. gross.
5. astrology...stupid stuff.
4 Ways to turn me off:
1. Start talking about how god will keep us together and we can live our lives together through the values of Jesus christ our lord and saviour.
2. be all needy and stuff...and like really touchy.
3. say stupid things like "who is douglas adams"or "intelligent design roxors" or "disco is a really great musical genre"
4. smell bad.
3 things I do every day:
1. Go online and read the news, blogs, check my e-mail about 30 times, etc.
2. drink a glass of milk and eat at least 1 pickle. i love pickles.
3. sing really loud usually in the shower.
2 things that make me happy:
1. riding the bus with my ipod playing really really good music and watching people do their thing. I could do that all day.
2. get a mark higher than 95% on something.
1 Thing that is on my mind right now: Abraham and the Patriarchs living in the Mesopotamian city of Ur... I'm doing eastern religion readings...shut up.

So its been a while...

Since I've done a music post. ...Perhaps I'll do a massive one later on when...I'm not as lazy as I am right this very moment in time. Instead, I will entertain ya'll with a general top 10 list...In 3 seconds I will decide if its my top 10 right now, or top 10 of all time. ... ... ... I have decided on all time, and I've also decided that they are not in any particual order, because really, I just can't decide which order the top 10 all time favorite songs would go in...

Fat Bottom Girls - Queen

Fast Car - India Ari

New Slang - The Shins

Your Ex-Lover is Dead - Stars

Intergallactic - Beastie Boys

Shampoo Suicide - Broken Social Scene

Banditos - The Refreshments

One - Jarvis Church ft. K'Naan

Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

We Will Become Silhouettes - The Postal Service

And now, because it is only 2 am, and I'm relatively bored/not tired, I'll do my top 10 as of today...Please note, this top 10 changes...pretty much daily.

Galang - MIA

Deceptacon - Le Tigre

One Great City - The Weakerthans

Telescope Eyes - Eisley

Crazy - Gnarles Barkley

Disconnect the Dots - Of Montreal

Build God Then We'll Talk - Panic! At the Disco

Kashmir - Led Zepplin

Both Hands - Ani Difranco

Psycho Killer - The Talking Heads

I did a neat survey thing a while back, that had top 10 somethings, then top 9 somethings, and kept declining. I'm going to go find that and post it because I'm SUPER bored. And that's what I do. I post things when I'm bored.

Who do I love???

Rachel Maddow!! You all know that by now!
So I heard about this girls speech, and thought "wtf...all she probably did was like thank God, and they cut her off?" not quite, apparently.
This link explains the story a bit and on the left hand side has a couple videos about it. ...I'd cut off her speech just because her voice is so annoying. I think that separation of church and state is more important than the freedom of speech issue. Had the attendence not been manditory and sponsored by the school the situation may be a bit different, but... really, she was warned it would happen.
Lil' brit plays up the freedom of speech thing, but really...SHE WAS LIKE PREACHING! If I got up there and started going off about how Satan had helped me through school, and helped me find myself...and etc... they'd cut me off.
Fox takes her side, suprised?? noooo not at all, but that's besides the point. it sounds like her speech was almost as bad as a ron luce youth rally. I cant seem to find any full length videos of her speech, but the link I provided shows the important parts of it. That interview wtih Fox News makes me want to punch a lot of people.
BUT here we go, the love of my life talking about it with the man who needs to be skined alive! (Just kidding, im starting to like tucker, not his opinion, or personality, or clothing...just..him.)

Just in case...

For those of you who read my last post and were like..."who the fuck is Captain Planet???" well first of all, shame on you. Second of all...watch these (one episode split into three movies because youtube is weird like that sometimes):
I love captain planet.

The goose that laid the golden egg...

my brother just sent this video to me...
we used to watch it all the time. ...aww. memories. he got it from this site. holy jamoly there are lots of cool shows listed on there! very cool! especially if you like cartoons like I do! Andy and I also used to watch Dextors Labratory and run around screaming "my hair is on fire" (or that could have just been me and he called me an idiot...one of the two) and we would watch Captain planet and fight over the powers that they let out of their rings while saying "the power is yours!" and then we'd be all like "i got it! i got it!" "no! i got that one!"...and so on.

An Inconvenient Truth: Review

So I finally saw it. Metroid and I were in a store standing in line to buy something and we heard on the radio playing over out heads “An Inconvenient Truth, playing at Rainbow theatres”. Well, how handy is that? I live a 10 minute walk from a Rainbow theatre, so tonight I took 2 hours out of my life to go and see it.

Strangely enough, the first thought that came to my mind was “Man, I should have brought my laptop to take notes”, instead of the pad of paper and pen I had brought along to swiftly jot things down. Unfortunately, I can’t read the notes I took, the theatre was too dark, and my writing is too chaotic.

The message that the movie sends is that we have a moral necessity* to make change, but instead we’re all sitting in perpetual darkness, so Al Gore is our guiding light. *Note that he focuses on climate change being a ‘moral’ issue rather than a political one.

However, Gore put somewhat of a depressing light over being an environmentalist stating that “Victories that aren’t victories. Defeats that aren’t defeats”. Sure, that’s how it is most of the time…but I was still a little unnerved by that.

That was my only beef with the movie. That Gore really pushed the moral side of it all, and made it seem impossible to defeat climate change. It wasn’t a movie for the already environmentalist, as you’d have to be a pretty uneducated environmentalist to go into and learn a lot of things. I found that most of what he said I already knew, so instead of being in shock, like I suspect other people in the audience were, I was making sure his science and his numbers were correct.

One thing I think I should address is that a while back when I posted that this movie was coming out, the punk got all up in my face about the ice melting and that raising the sea levels. …It is thoroughly explained in the movie, that rather than the ice caps melting and raising the sea levels it is the land ice that is melting. So that the Antarctic icebergs melt, that affects the land ice that was once being held in place by the other ice that falls into the water, which would make the sea level rise.

In addition to that the water that is melting on top percolates to the where the land ice and land meet the lower bedrock and create lubrication sliding huge pieces out of place and opening up craters in the middle of continents which consequently leave room for even more surface water and ice to fall into the sea or make their way to the sea.

The big picture of all that is that if ½ of Greenland were to melt into the sea and ½ of Antarctica then the sea levels would rise 20 feet. Now, a lot of people say “no fucking way” to that, and act as if it’s just a big scam to get people to listen. But, there were also warnings about Katrina, and that the weather would be getting more severe, etc. I wholeheartedly believe the fact that sea levels will rise to the point that they will be displacing hundreds of millions of people.

The Larsen Ice Shelf is what Gore used as more or less a proof of this. There were little ‘melting puddles’ along the shelf, and then within 32 days, the entire shelf was gone. There are similar puddles forming in Greenland already.

So that was one area that I learned more, I already knew that the ice melting would raise sea levels, but now I can explain it in a more detailed, and convincing way. I went with someone who knew little about the environment and climate change (well, knew some, but not all the numbers and science and such) and that person got a lot out of it, and was really shocked by some of the details. Where as I, nodded my head yes agreeing, as if he was simply confirming all that I have learned previously, and tried to educate others about before.

All in all, I loved the movie. I cried my eyes out.

Even though none of it was news to me, sitting there and seeing the earth, and seeing the pollution and just retelling yourself how fucked up the world is, hurts on so many different levels. People say that I’m going overboard when I say humans are ‘raping the earth’. But I believe that statement, and I feel as though everyone else knows it too – but they just don’t care, which can be a really heartbreaking thing to deal with.

And caring just carries such a heavy load. I spoke to my friends all through high school and my first year at university about the environment. About the importance of conservation, recycling, walking and all of those things… but so often got told to be quiet. And so often they were like “oh yeah yeah yeah, you’re right.” And then would leave a room with all the lights on, air condition on, TV on, computer on…it takes 30 seconds to turn these off as to add life to the entire earth.

It’s a movie that I really think has the power to cut through a lot of denial that’s been spouted from the mouths of people all over the world. He really does create a well balanced slide show of science and moral dilemmas to make people seriously consider what he is saying, and not to mention…it’s kind of scary the things that he shows.

The evidence is presented so compellingly and really people who criticize it for not being aesthetically pleasing or that it was simply a scream for attention are extremely off base. It should, however, have great impacts on who the hell should be president of the United States of America. It was a great movie, I urge everyone to see it… especially if you don’t want to see it.